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Press Release : Unofficial Translation of a Royal Announcement by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun

Unofficial Translation of a Royal Announcement by

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun

(UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION)

The Institution of the Monarchy as in the Constitution.

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun graciously commands that the following be made known to all:

The Monarchy has proven itself the Soul of the Nation and the source of inspiration for the people of Thailand. The Monarch and senior members of the Royal Family always hold themselves above politics to devote themselves to the service of the country and people. As is so clearly evident to all, over the seventy-year reign of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who dedicated himself to working tirelessly for the happiness and well-being of his people. His late Majesty reigned in righteousness guiding the country through the many crises, be they threats from terrorism, natural disasters or domestic political strife and confrontation. His late Majesty tended to his people's ills, nurtured their happiness in a fatherly manner with such selflessness and boundless generosity that he earned the love and reverence of all. He was in every way the Father of the Nation.

Princess Ubolratana is the eldest daughter of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and further, the eldest sister of His Majesty the King and every senior member of the Royal Family. Despite the fact that Princess Ubolratana had relinquished her title - in writing in compliance with Palace Laws, she has been maintaining her status as a member of the Chakri Royal Family. She was much loved by her august father and mother and is held in the highest esteem and respect by all members of the Royal Family, and by all loyal subjects for her dedicated work for the benefit of the people. In maintaining her status and in carrying out her royal duties, Princess Ubolratana had been given the unremitting support of agencies and personnel belonging to the palace. Any attempt to involve a high-level member of the Royal Family in the political process - by whatever means, would be tantamount to breaching time-honoured royal traditions, customs and national culture. Such action must be deemed transgression and most inappropriate.

To note further: every single Thai constitution, including the Constitution currently in force, always contains a distinct, separate Section on the Monarchy which upholds its special status, being above politics, to be respected and deeply revered, inviolable, and enjoying complete immunity from prosecution and legal proceedings. Such provisions should no doubt apply to the Queen, the heir to the throne, and those members of the Royal Family close to the person of the Monarch, members whom the Monarch is prone to designate his representative to perform Royal duties on his behalf. Hence, the Queen, the heir to the throne, every said member of the Royal Family would come within the application of the same rule requiring the Monarch to be above politics and to be politically neutral. Nor would they be permitted to hold any political office because this would violate not only the spirit of the Constitution, but also the established conventions of government under the rubric of constitutional monarchy.

Given on the Eighth day of February B.E. 2562 in the fourth year of the present reign.